CHOs express concern over delay in receiving salaries

Community Health Officers (CHOs), who were on a strike from April 17 to May 26, have expressed concern over the delay in receiving salaries and requested the State government to initiate the process at the earliest.

There are around 10,000 Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs or Village Health Clinics in the State, which are manned by the CHOs. Each clinic, which caters to a rural population of 3,000 to 5,000, is staffed by a CHO, an ANM and two or three ASHAs. The CHOs are authorised to prescribe 105 types of drugs to people, conduct 14 types of tests and provide 12 types of services to the rural public.

The CHOs had been on a strike for more than a month demanding payment of pending incentives, an increase in their pay of ₹25,000, regularisation of the services of those who completed six years and resumption of PF. They had withdrawn their strike on May 26, after they were promised that a meeting with the Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav would be scheduled soon to discuss their issues.

While they continue to wait for the meet, they pointed out that the government is yet to release their salaries for the past two months.

“From the meagre salary of ₹25,000 that we receive, we run both our homes and the clinics. After spending from our pockets on the rents, electricity charges at the clinic, we are not left with much to spend on any other necessities at home. If the salaries are not credited on time, it becomes extremely difficult for us to run the clinic,” said Sandeep, president of the Andhra Pradesh Midlevel Health Provider/Community Health Officers’ Association.

More than 4,000 of the total 10,000 clinics are being run in rented buildings, Mr. Sandeep said, adding that the rents are usually between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000.

He expressed disappointment at the government’s perception that they do not do enough work. “We took part in the NCD (non-communicable diseases) survey 3.0, screened people for not just oral and breast cancers, but also cervical. This is in addition to the administrative role we play at the clinics. Despite bearing many responsibilities, the government thinks we do not do enough,” Mr. Sandeep said.

He requested the government to release their salaries immediately and hoped that the meeting is scheduled soon.